ematan, it iss your own business; you will know
best yourself. I will see to stowin' away my supper--whatever."

By the time supper was over, the moon had descended into a bank of black
clouds on the horizon, and profound darkness brooded over land and
water. It was a night such as an attacking party would hail as being
most suitable for its work, and of course was proportionately unsuitable
for the attacked. The Indian chief displayed no more concern about it
than if nothing unusual were pending. After supper, however, he
directed that the canoes should be launched and loaded. At the same
time he gathered together as much wood as he could, and heaped it on the
fire.

"You seem determined to give them plenty of light to do their work,"
remarked Davidson.

"They will wait till our fire burns low," said the chief. "By that time
they will think we are asleep. A sleeping foe is not dangerous. They
will come--slowly; step by step; with wide eyes glancing from side to
side, and no noise, sly as foxes; timid as squaws! But by that time we
will be far on our way back to Red River!"

"Ay--if we do not meet them comin' to attack us," said Fergus.

"And how shall we proceed!" asked Dan.

"As we came," answered the chief. "Okematan, with the two boys, will
lead. Dan-ell an' Fergus will follow. Come."

Led by their guide, the party passed out of the firelight into the dense
thicket by which the spot was encompassed almost completely, so that the
only visible sign of the encampment from outside was the forks of flame
and sparks which rose high above the bushes.

On reaching the shore they found the two boys holding the canoes, close
to the land. So intense was the darkness that they could not see the
boys or canoes at all till close beside them. Without uttering a word,
or making a sound with their moccasined feet, they stepped into the
canoes, pushed gently off and glided, ghost-like, into the vast
obscurity.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

A MIDNIGHT CHASE, AND DAN IN EXTREMITY.

For some time they advanced in absolute silence, dipping their paddles
so as to make no noise whatever; Dan following as close as possible in
the wake of the chief, for it was one of those nights which people
describe as being so dark that one cannot see one's hand before one's
face.

On reaching the lower end of the lake-like expansion where the river
narrowed suddenly and the stream began to be felt, it was discovered
that the e